386 ON THE SCOPE AND INFLUENCE OF THE 
“ decreta et axiomata rite consuluit ; sed postquam pro arbi- 
“ trio suo decrevisset, experientiam ad sua placita tortam cir- 
“ cumducit, et captivam *.” It should always be recollected, 
that Bacon’s call was not merely for observation and experi- 
ment ; but for observation and experiment conducted accord- 
ing to certain forms and rules ; which forms and rules were first 
delineated by him, and constitute the body of the Inductive 
Logic. There may be nothing im this logic that can be called 
a discovery in the strict sense of the word ; but the statement 
of its precepts, was certainly a grand and important step to- 
wards the advancementofv2n uine science. ut 
It would require a complete analysis of the Novum Organum. 
to furnish an adequate idea of the value of Bacon’s services in 
this important department of philosophy ; but the fundamental 
rules of his method may be comprehended in a few sentences. 
They seem all to be founded upon the following principles : 
first, That it is the business of philosophy to. discover the laws. 
or causes that operate in Nature, in order thereby to explain. 
appearances, and produce new effects}: next, That we are 
incapable of discovering these laws or causes in any other 
way than by attending to the circumstances in which they 
operate: and, lastly, That the mind is naturally disposed 
to run into general conclusions, and to form systems, be- 
fore 
* Novum Organum, Lib. i, Aph. 63. 
+ Novum Organ. Lib. i. Aph. 117. Throughout the whole of the first book, 
the object of science is represented to. be the discovery of Axioms ; by which term 
Bacon eyidently means those general laws or truths which form the basis of our 
physical reasonings. Newron, as Mr Srewanrt observes, has, after Bacon’s ex- 
ample, applied the term Axtom to the laws of motion, and to. the statement of 
certain general truths in Catoptrics and Dioptrics. See Philosophy of the Mind, 
vol. ii. Chap. 4. They who are engaged in the study of the Novum Organum, 
will derive much valuable information and assistance from the perusal of this 
part of Mr Srewarr’s work. 
